Radically designed midsize SUV crowned Best Hybrid Seven-seater by What Car?
Prestigious awards identify the best electrified cars on the market
Another significant win for Hyundai in trophy-laden year for the brand
Leatherhead, August 28th 2024 – The All-New Hyundai SANTA FE Plug-In Hybrid has been named the Best Hybrid Seven-seater on sale at the 2024 What Car? Electric Car Awards.
The prestigious awards are held annually by the UK’s biggest car buying brand and recognise the growing importance of electrified vehicles by naming the finest choices in 16 classes, covering all areas of the market.
Hyundai’s radically designed SUV, which is available to order now, won praise from the What Car? team of expert judges for its generous capacity, high-quality cabin and composed, comfortable driving experience.
Steve Huntingford, Editor of What Car?, said: “With many large SUVs, opting for plug-in hybrid power means sacrificing the ability to carry more than five people, but not in the Hyundai SANTA FE. What’s more, even tall adults will be comfortable in its third row. The upmarket nature of the interior adds to the car’s appeal, as does its superb driving position. Meanwhile, the ride is supple and the power delivery smooth. If you’re looking for a plug-in hybrid with seven proper seats, there’s simply no better option.”
The All-New SANTA FE features a striking design, with a distinctive boxy silhouette and customer-centric spacious interior, suited to a range of outdoor and urban activities. Fully foldable second- and third-row seats provide class-leading interior space, while the variety of high-tech, practical features adds to its signature nature-meets-city appeal. It also comes with a myriad of safety features, and a full suite of Hyundai Smart Sense Advanced Driver Assistance Systems.
Alongside the four-wheel-drive Plug-in Hybrid version, which features the 1.6-litre T-GDi Smartstream engine to deliver 253 PS and 367 Nm maximum power and torque, there are two Hybrid variants (with two-wheel drive and four-wheel drive), which both deliver 215 PS and 367 Nm. Three trim levels – Premium, Ultimate and Calligraphy – are offered.
What Car?’s recognition of the All-New SANTA FE follows a Red Dot Design Award for the car in April, and continues a remarkable year of success for Hyundai, which has seen its range of models collect an array of accolades.
The groundbreaking Hyundai IONIQ 5 N has led the way by being named 2024 World Performance Car in the World Car Awards and Best Performance Car of 2024 by both Autocar and Auto Express, but there have also been notable successes for the i10 (Best City Car), KONA Electric (Best Small Company Car) and TUCSON (Best Mid-Size SUV) in the Auto Express New Car Awards; the KONA (Medium Car of the Year) at the Company Car and Van Awards; and IONIQ 6 (Best Family Car) at the UK Car of the Year Awards.
Ashley Andrew, President of Hyundai & Genesis UK, said: “Reaction to the All-New SANTA FE has been extremely positive, thanks to its combination of all the familiar features that have impressed so many buyers during the past 23 years, in tandem with a radical redesign and premium customer experience. We are gratified that the experts from What Car? have recognised what a compelling proposition it is for families by naming it the Best Hybrid Seven-seater. The award illustrates again the remarkable depth of Hyundai’s award-winning new car product range, from practical SUVs to clever city cars and sensational electrified performance machines.”
